"All right, all right, I'll tell you!"
Su Xiao caught us red-handed. Unlucky me, therefore, had no choice but to tell him what made Heavenly Fragrance Garden a noble place.
"You two don't realise that this place is immeasurably special. This place is…" I suppressed my volume, "The largest brothel in the capital!"
Tang Ye just stayed silent, as he was speechless. Meanwhile, Su Xiao almost leapt up.
"You heartless crook!"
Su Xiao smacked me in the head with his sabre scabbard!
"You're all that now, are you? Right after you go to Apricot Flower Brothel, you go to Heavenly Fragrance Garden. The girls at these two places are the most expensive! I'm absolutely certain that you embezzled public funds to eat, drink and play again. I'm going to beat you to death today!"
Su Xiao's voice sounds childish to begin with, so when he spoke hastily, it sounded even more childish. It sounded even weaker than a girl's voice.
'I never went to Apricot Flower Brothel, though! I just made that up in the spur of the moment!'
"Have I told you before or not? I said that the girls at brothels are pitiful. Not only are you not helping them, but even trampling on them! Don't forget that you're also our head constable and a Seventh Rank Warrior! How unbecoming for someone with such status to be going to brothels! Plus, you're so ugly; how harsh is it on the girls to have to serve you."
'Hey, hey, hey! That's too mean, don't you think?! What exactly are you trying to do, care for me, scold me, put me own or correct me?!! Also, how in the world do you know that Apricot Flower Brothel is as expensive as Heavenly Fragrance Garden?!'
"Hmph! The female constables at the office are responsible for dealing with cases involving the female and male relationship cases in the city. They specifically arrest heartless and corrupt men, like you. I heard them talk about it."
Tang Ye, however, stopped Su Xiao's rage, "Big Brother, if you have something to say, finish it up."
"Okay, okay. I originally wanted to find a quiet place to talk about it. Lean in, you two."
In order to avoid others hearing us, I used Voice Transmission. Tang Ye knew that I was capable of using it. Su Xiao's a dunce, so he was unlikely to notice.
"This place is the largest brothel in the capital, as the backer holds so much authority and power beyond your imagination."
"Didn't you say that already, albeit not finishing, Big Bro? Does the owner of this place have a very intimate relationship with the Imperial Court?'
"Not just intimate…" I checked to ensure that nobody noticed us then vigilantly finished, "The backer of this place is the Imperial Court, itself!"
"What? It's the Imperial Court's privately operated brothel?"
"Eek!" Su Xiao reacted with shock, "How disgusting of the Imperial Court. Which department runs it? I'm reporting them to shut the place down!"
I hopelessly replied, "The truth is… it's our Liu Shan Men."
Su Xiao and Tang Ye exchanged eye contact. They both revealed looks indicating that they couldn't wait to get out of this questionable place.
"Sh! Sh! Don't be hasty!" I glanced at Heavenly Fragrance Garden's plaque and whispered, "Many years ago, a high ranking member of Liu Shan Men opened it, but he's no longer instated. The owner of the place has changed. I don't know the details of who's currently running it nowadays, but I do know who the big boss backing it is."
I started to become even more cautious, especially since Her Highness was keeping tabs on me from behind; thus, I couldn't let her hear what I was about to say.
"The big boss backing Heavenly Fragrance Flower… is His Majesty." I ignored their astonished expressions and added, "Back then, the scale of this place wasn't as grand as this. After the high-ranking official at Liu Shan Men left, His Majesty collected the place under his wing and turned it into an entity that served as his eyes and ears. You must realise that this is where the most money is spent in the capital. It isn't just a brothel, but also a gambling house, a place for entertainment, a theatre, eatery, accessory shop and so forth. Countless people from the martial world and wealthy officials come here daily. When they do come, they provide an infinite wealth information. Furthermore, the place does, indeed, make a lot of money. There are also plenty of girls there. You can discuss chess, music, flowers…"
Su Xiao glared at me, so I quickly ended my digression, "That's why I want Tang Ye to pose as a wealthy young master, spend lavishly and pass on information to the Imperial Court that I want the Emperor to hear about."
The two of them nodded as though they understood then revealed expressions that supposedly suggested so, albeit also suggesting that they didn't.
"All right, I'm done with explaining things. Handsome Tang Ye, it's show time for you now. You need to pose as a wealthy young master. I even paid for your clothes; don't embarrass me, now."
I pushed Tang Ye toward Heavenly Fragrance Garden. Nevertheless, he stood his ground and refused to budge. He faintly said, "Big Brother, it's not that I don't want to help you, but… spending lavishly? Do we have money?"
He has a point, but it's not a problem.
"Rest assured. I have a financial backer. We'll have as much as we want."
I'm working for Princess Hongzhuang, here. Therefore, it's working for the imperial family. I can just ask her to foot the bill when the time comes. Tang Ye still refused to move, though.
"Big Brother, it's not that I don't want to help you, but when it comes to wealthy young masters, they would be familiar with all of the rich young masters in the capital, as it's the largest brothel. Being wealthy doesn't just mean being financially wealthy, but also being famous. I'm afraid that we can't play the part."
"I took that into consideration already. We're posing as a young master from another city, so there's no need to fear them not recognising you."
'What's the matter with Tang Ye today? Why is he so wishy washy about entering a brothel?'
"Oh, right, Su Xiao, the two of us need to take on fake identities, as well. Fortunately, you're not in your constable uniform today. Just pose as an attendant."
Su Xiao nodded, "Oh, oh, I'll just keep quiet and obediently follow your lead."
I pushed Tang Ye again, but he didn't budge… I gave him the boot this time, causing him to stumble.
"Now what?!"
"Big Brother, it's not that I don't want to help you, b-"
"Can you stop initiating everything with that phrase? Why can't I help but feel that you don't want to help me?! If you have something to say, then come out with it. What exactly is the matter with you?"
"Mm… All right." Tang Ye cleared his throat, "Truthfully, neither money nor identity is the issue. I did pick up some money from His Majesty a few days ago, after all. I wouldn't mind giving you all of it."
'Oi! Don't show off! I'm still broke! Making those clothes for you has left my wallet lighter! Seeing as how you have money, get it made yourself!'
"It's just that I'm afraid that I'll embarrass you at a brothel, Big Brother."
"Huh? How so? It's not as if I've never been to one, ahem, just rest assured and go."
"It's not your problem, but mine."
"What's the matter?"
Tang Ye raised his head and puffed his chest. With the proud tone of a big man, he exclaimed, "I've never court a girl before; I'm still a virgin!"
"A virgin?"
'So what if you're a virgin?! Back then, my shifu was locked up at Mount Daluo to train, so he was still a virgin at thirty! That never prevented him from roaming the streets to pick up women every day!'
I fumed, "Just grab their butt and done!"
Tang Ye shook his head and shrugged, "But I can't."
'Damn virgin! How have you not learnt any of my strong qualities despite being with me for so long?! When I was fourteen, *cough, cough*, mind your own business! In any case, you have to pretend that you can even if you can't.'
'It's just teasing some girls, isn't it? Drop a line or two, grab their butts and done!'
Su Xiao raged, "Big Brother Ming! Whose butt have you touched?!" Su Xiao paused, and then raged even harder, "It must've been Vice-Captain! Ah, wait, it must've been your gugu!"
'I didn't!'
'I don't have the balls to touch either Boss Shen or Shiyi, okay?! Pigs would fly if Boss Shen didn't skin me for touching her butt, given her tough temper! Shiyi would definitely laugh, and then turn around and grab my ass. Then the situation between us would become flirtatious!! Would you be able to compensate me if those things happen?!'
'Speaking of which, I touched your ass before! I accidentally touched your ass when we were in the Imperial Palace and the day before when you were affected by Five Plucks Heart Enchantment Pill!'
"That's so minor; overcome it! If we stay here on the street any longer, we'll be asking for trouble!"
I paid Tang Ye's opinion no heed this time and dragged him in as if I was dragging goods.
Oh, I forgot to mention that since Heavenly Fragrance Garden is His Majesty's property, not only did it not matter that he broke the regulations and wouldn't be investigated by officials, but was also more heavily guarded than normal large doors.
This isn't your average brothel with girls at the door calling out to attract customers or male workers at the brothel calling out, either. If they actually did that, this place wouldn't be worthy of its reputation as the number one brothel in the capital. There were no beauties at the entrance; instead, you had men dressed up as wealthy individuals.
I dragged Tang Ye. After walking over half-way in, he felt that something was wrong. A few men at the entrance had turbid gazes. However, as soon as they shifted their gazes to us, particularly Tang Ye, their eyes lit up.
Among them were tall, short, lean and fat men. At first glance, they looked normal; however, their temples popped, and their breathing would stop and continue now and then, which were signs that they were all well-versed internal style practitioners. They should be the skilled fighters that the Emperor arranged to keep watch on Heavenly Fragrance Garden. In fact, they might even be among the elite warriors of the imperial court.
Heavenly Fragrance Garden has also been a place that only serves those high up on the social hierarchy, especially for high-ranking officials of the imperial court or major figures in the pugilistic world, who need to engage in secret meetings. The place provides the best and most secretive service, though the Emperor learns of everything they say in the end.
To put it frankly, it's not easy for outsiders and strangers to get inside, which was one thing that Tang Ye was correct about. You can't just enter because you've got money; you also need authority and power. If a rich man from the countryside tries to get in, he won't even get to see a single girl. All he'll be able to do is get kicked out by the men at the door.
I'm not rich, though; therefore, I have to use some special techniques.
Two men had begun to pay attention to us long ago. When we nearly reached our destination, they said to Tang Ye, "Young Master, please stop."
There were a total of eight people at the door. Every single one of them was capable in their own right. Had they not noticed that Tang Ye possesses profound skills, one of them probably would've sufficed.
Su Xiao followed behind us closely and from behind, asked, "Big Brother Ming, if I'm an attendant, then what are you?"
I laughed, "Haha, do you even need to ask? My young master's muscle!"
Before Tang Ye could respond to the men, I jumped in to exclaim, "My young master has come from afar. Why have you still not knelt to welcome him?!"
"You sure are haughty."
Before he could finish, I shoved my fist into his lower abdomen. Before my fist made contact, the blast of wind generated from my punch rocked his dantian, leading to him passing out on the spot. I pressed my hand onto his chest and gave him a shove, sending him stumbling into his comrades behind him. His comrades caught him. The instant they caught him, they felt an immense surge of uncontrollable energy affect them. They looked at me with disbelief, "Butterfly Effect Divine Fist!"
The six behind him noticed that something over in our direction was strange, and thus, rushed over to stop us.
I led with my left hand then slipped in between two of them to throw two uppercuts to their chins. The two were punched up into the air after I made contact. I then unleashed a palm strike, thereby launching another big man charging over to me and sending him flying into another guy, consequently knocking four unconscious.
Witnessing my prowess, Su Xiao excitedly exclaimed, "Big Brother Ming, save me one!"
"Sure!"
I slipped behind Su Xiao. After witnessing their comrades randomly pas out, they were afraid that I was using witchcraft; therefore, they focused on protecting their vitals and didn't dare to advance. Meanwhile, Su Xiao raised his scabbard to attack them and gained the upper hand.
From behind, I furtively grabbed Su Xiao's sabre handle and moulded energy. Su Xiao's scabbard immediately made contact with one of them. Then he horizontally swung his scabbard, knocking unconscious another one. Due to them being struck before they knew it, they didn't immediately drop after passing out. Instead, their bodies slowly went limp and dropped to the ground.
While Su Xiao was celebrating his drastic improvement in power, I kicked open the main door to Heavenly Fragrance Garden, thereby revealing the shocked expressions of the men and women enjoying themselves inside.
I pinched my throat and exclaimed, "Heads up, heads up! Zhenjiang's Young Master, Jin Wangsun, has reserved the entire place. Loafers are to all get lost! Additionally, my name is Ah Zhong!"
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